Electric switch



Nov. 17, 1925. 1,561,640

J. F. EYRAUD ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed Feb 14, 1921 @sin PatentedNov.A `17, 1925.

UNITED STATES Y 1,561,640 PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH FRANCOIS EYBAUD, 0I' LYON, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR, BY HESNE .A B'SIGN-IENTS, TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.'

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led February 14, 1921, 'Serial No. 444,804. Renewed April 7,1925.

To all 'wlwm t may cof/wem:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH FnANors EYRAUD, a citizen of the FrenchRepublic, of Lyon, France, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in Electric Switches, of which t ve following is aspeciication.' g

My invention relates to electric switches and particularly to rotarysnap switches. My improved switch mechanism is constructed to obtain asnap make and break action on rotation of the switch-spindle in eitherdirection. To .this end the switch mechanism comprises an escapementhaving a series of fixed Stops spaced around the switch spindle, saidstops affording between them interspaces or recesses to receive a detentor latch bolt. The latter is appropriately connected to the rotaryswitch ade or pole -member for rotation therewith. A cam on the rotarswitch spindle serves to free the detent rom the fixed stops after theswitch operating spring has been stresseld. d

n t e accom an ing rawings- Fig. 1 is apsectyion on the line A-A,

Fig. 2 is a section on the line B-B, Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are moreor less diagrammatic sectional views illustratin the operation oftheesoapement mechanism; and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are similar views illustrating the operation of theswitch spring.

The switch as shown comprises an insulating base b on which is securedamember a. 'shaped toaiord a series of pro]eot1ons or teeth cconstituting fixed stops withrecesses between them. Engaged between theoposed faces of adjacent stops @is a detent lt or latch d mounted on aneccentric e fixed to the rotary switch s indle g. The axis of rotation fof the spin le g is aligned with the longitudinal center line of thedetent ci' which is thus symmetrical with respect to the axis of the sirldle.

A ole member or switch blade j is engagetl) between and suitablinsulated. from washers c' and lc on the seeve Z-journaled freely on therotary spindle g. A pin and slot engagement between the washer i and thedentent d insures the rotation of the pole piece with the detent, whileat the same time permitting the in and out play of the detent withrespect to the stops c on actuation of the switch. At its lower end thespindle g is freely journaled in the bushing m beneath which the end ofthe spindle may be headed 'over or otherwise secured.

The switch operating coil spring p arranged on the spindle g engagesbetween its offset ends the lugs k and 1". The lu lc is fast with thepole carrier washer k, w ile the'lug r is fast with the washer r fixedto to the shaft The two lugs are spaced different radia distances fromthe spindle so that they may pass each other on rotation of the spindlein either direction by means of the button n thereon. f

The operation of the switch is as follows. If the button n be turnedclockwise (arrow Fig. 3) the lug 1" moves out of radial alignment withthe 1u la', since the pole carrier is temporarily held by rotation andthe spring p thus placed' under stress. As the Spindle rotates, itseccentric e causes the detent d to assume first a nonradial positionwith respect to the spindle, and second (on rotation of the cam morethan 90) ,to be withdrawn past the detaining face of the sto cwhichopposes rotation in the same direction as the spindle. As the detent descapes the nose of the stop c, the 4spring p bearing against the lug 7ccauses the pole piece and detent d to rotate clockwise together y reasonof the pin and slot connection therebetween. During this rotation thedetent d, journaled on cam e (now relatively stationary) is forcedoutward and its meeting side or margin impinges against the opposed faceof the next succeeding sto o (Fig. 4). The switch bar or pole piece isthus halted in its next succeeding ition. Upon release of the spindle g,-w ich has been rotated slightly more than 90 to elfect the escapementoperation, the leg of spring p which bea-rs agalnst lug 1", forces thelatter into radial alignment with the lng la. This slight reverserotation of the spindle and cam causes the detent to re-assumeits'radial position (Fig. 2 in its new station.

Rotation of t e spindle in opposite or contra-clockwise directionoperates the escapement in opposite direction, but in precisely the samefashion, owing to the fact thatl the escapement mechanism is symmetricaThe opposed faces of adjacent stops ma diverge inwardly (Figs. 2 to 4),in whi the detent d against case the sides of the detent may beparallel; or alternatively (Fig. 5) the opposed faces of the adjacentstops may be parallel andV the side faces of the detent convergeinward-- I structions which have substantially the same action, I claimas my invention- 1. In a device of the character described thecombination of a base a hollow substantially cruciform member mounted onsaid base, a shaft perpendicular to the plane of said cruciform memberand arranged centrally thereof, an eccentric keyed on said shaft withinsaid cruciform member a collar mounted on said eccentric a symmetricallyshaped lateral extension on said collar having approximately the widthof the arms of the cruciform member and adapted to engage therein, a pinon the Asymmetrical axis of said extension, a washer carried by saidshaft and having a radial groove in which said pin engages, a secondwasher on said shaft` contact arms mounted on said shaft between saidwashers, fixed contact members coacting with said contact arms, a buttonfor rotating said shaft, means for supporting said shaft a helicalspring surrounding said shaft between said second lwasher and the'base/of said button" and having it ends bent'` away from `said shaft apin on said second washer adapted to engage with oneof said* ends and apm mounted in said button adapted to engage with the other of said ends.f n

2. A rotary snap switch having a reversibly rotatable switch blade, areversibly rotatable. spindle, asdrivi spring operatively interposedbetween t e same, and an esca ement mechanism for temporarily detaininthe switch blade during the rotation o the spindle in either direction,said mechanism including a series of fixed stops spaced around the sindle, a rotatable latch lfor detaining the switch blade and normally enaged between adjacent stops in substantia ly radial position withrespect to the spindie, and means operated by the spindle upon itsrotation in either direction for withdrawing the latch in non-radialposition from the stops, the engaging faces of the latch and 4stops'being shaped to aord'an inwardly divergent angular clearancetherebetween which ermits the latch to freely assume a non-ra ialposition with respect to the spindle during the withdrawal operation.

3. A rotary snap switch having a reversibly rotatable switch blade, areversibly rotadirection, for withdrawing the latch in" 'angularposition from engagement with the stops, the width of the latchcorresponding substantially to the distance between the stops at thepoint of. engagement therebetween when the parts are at rest, while theengaging faces of the latch and stops are shaped to afford4 av clearancetherebetween which permits the latch to freely assume an angularposition during its withdrawal.

4. A rotary snap switch having a reversibly rotatable switch blade, areversibly rotatable spindle, a driving spring operatively interposedbetween the same, and an escapement mechanism for temporarily detainingthe switch blade during the rotation of the spindle in either direction,said mechanism including a series of fixed stops spaced around thespindle, a rotatable latch for de; taining the switch blade and normallyengaged without substantial lost motion between the parts, and meansoperated by the spindle, upon its rotation in either direction, forwithdrawing the latch in angular position from engagement with thestops, the width ofy the latch corresponding substantially to thedistance between the stops at an angular clearance therebetween when theparts are at rest.

5. In a rotary snap switch, a stop plate having a series of stop lugs,each provided with a pair of latch-engaging faces which lie at an angleto each other, the opposed faces of adjacent stops lying parallel toeach other, in combination with a latch adapted to be engaged anddetained between adjacent stops, said latch comprising a fish tailplate, the opposite side margins of the fish tail forming impact faces'.

6. A rotary snap switch com rising a stop plate having a series of stopugs, the opposed faces of adjacent stops being substantially parallel,in combination with a latch adapted to enter and be engaged between theopposed faces of adjacent stops,the engaging faces of said latch beingangled toward each other.

7. In an electric switch, a stop plate havspindle, a cam fast withsaidspindle, a de-` ing stop lugs, the opposed faces of adjacent stopsbeing substantially parallel to each other, in combination with acam-operated latch having an end dimension substantially correspondingto the distance between the opposed faces of adjacent stops, and a lessdimension toward the cam to afford clearance between the Asides of thelatch and the .stops when the latch is rocked by the rotation of thecam.

8. In an lelectric switch, astop plate having stationary stop lugs, areversibly rotatable switch spindle, a cam fast with said spindle, and alatch o rabl associated with said cam and shaped or en engagementbetween adjacent stop lugsin normal osition of said cam, for angularwithdrawa therefrom on rotation of the cam in either direction, and forlateral flat face impact with the side of a stop lug at the endof itsthrow. y

9. In an electric switch, a stop'plate having stop lugs, a reversiblyrotatable switch tent plate, a latch having an offset lug engaging saiddetent plate for rotation therewith, said latch being operativelyassociated with said cam, and being'shaped for engagement with the stoplugs of the' stop plate and movable out of engagement therewith onrotation of the cam in either direction.

10. In an electric switch, a reversibly rotatable switch s indle, stops,spaced around the spindle and iavin fiat impact faces on their oppositesides, a atch plate having flat impact faces normally engaged betweenthe impact faces of adjacent stops and extending outward a shorterdistance than the latter, and means operated by the spindle on itsrotation in either direction for shlftlng the latch out 'of engagementwith said stops, the adjacent faces of the latch andstops being shapedto afford an inwardly diverging clearance therebetween when the partsare at rest.

11. In an electric switch, a reversibly rotatable switch spindle, aseries of fixed sto s spaced around the s indle, a latch norma y engagedbetween adjacent stops, the sides of said latch and of the stops beingshaped to afford pairs Aof flat faces which meet substantially in aplanein impact position,

but afford an inwardly-directed angular clearance therebetween when theparts are' stops having mutually approaching' surfaces which meet'toaord a quick escapement juncture,.together with a latch operativelyassociated with the rotary spindle and' normally engaged between theopposed surfaces of adjacent stops, said latch being adapted forwithdrawal past the escapement juncture of the surfaces of one or otherof the stops between which it is en aged, dependin upon the direction ofrotation of the spind e. Y

13. In a rotary snap switch, a reversibly rotatable switch spindle, aseries ofstops `spaced around 'the spindle, each of said stops having apair of flat stop faces-meeting toward the spindle in a sharp escapementedge, together with a latch operatively j associated with the rotaryspindle and normally engaged between the opposed faces of adjacentstops, said latch being adapted for withdrawal past the escapement edgeof one or the other of said stops between which it is engaged, dependingupon the direction of rotation of the spindle.

14, In a rotary snap switch, a stop plate centrally pierced toaccommodate a reversibly' rotatable switch spindle, and stop lugsformed, in said plate and spaced around said central piercing, each ofsaid lugs comprising a pair of fiat stop faces inclined toward eachother and meeting on a sharp escapem'ent edge faced toward the center.

a movable pole member, an actuating shaft,

a spring connecting said shaft and said pole member .and operating tomove said pole member in either direction with a snap action, fixedstationary stops spaced about said shaft, a detent connected with thepole member to rotate therewith and having its operative end of a widthcorresponding to the spacing of said stops, and an operative camconnection between said shaft and said detent positively retracting andadvancing the detent with respect to the stationary stops.

17. In a snap switch, the combination of a movable pole member, anactuating shaft,

a spring connecting said shaft and said pole member and operating tomove said pole member in either direction with a snap action, fixedstationary ystops spaced about said shaft, a detent connected to saidpole member and having its operative end of a width substantiallyequalto the spacing between said stops and normally to 'restrain movement ofsaid pole member in both directions, and an operative cam connectionbetween saidshaft and said detent positively retracting and advancingthe detent with respect to the stationary Stops.

18. In a snap switch, the combinationv of a reversely rotatable polemember, a reversible actuating shaft, a spring o eratively connectingsaid shaft and said po emember to rotate the latter in either direction,fixed stops arranged about said shaft with 'relatively Wide clearancesbetween them, a de-- tent connected to rotate with said pole member, oneend of said `detent having a width only slightly less than the spacebetween opposed faces of adjacent stops and Y normally locatedtherebetween, and means connected to said shaft to. move the detent outof engagement with the instant stop on rotation of the shaft in eitherdirection, said detent during its rotation moving outward through Atheclearance between the instant stop andthe succeedin stop in thedirection of rotation, whereby ull lateral impact between said detentand the succeeding stop is obtained. y

In witness whereof I have signed this specification. i

JOSEPH FRANCOIS EYRAUD.

